The boy’s eyes gleamed with greed as he clutched the coin. “Right away, sir.”
The horses were saddled within minutes, and we were galloping through the darkening countryside.
After more than a week of travel, we finally reached the foothills, where a light snowfall dusted our cloaks. As we pressed on, the drifts thickened, forcing our horses to trudge through the ever-deepening snow. Each mile grew harder, our progress slowed to a crawl—but at last, the count’s enormous estate emerged in the moonlight, its silhouette stark against the endless white.
We dismounted in the stables, letting the horses rest with generous flakes of hay before making our way toward the front door.
The moment I stepped inside, unease prickled down my spine.
Silence.
No bustling maids. No clinking dishes from the kitchen. No voices.
Nothing.
I followed the faint hum of movement into the Noir Room.
There, Rosie sat quietly on the carpet, playing, oblivious to the tension filling the house like a suffocating fog.
I crouched before her. “Sweetheart,” I murmured, keeping my voice soft. “Where is everyone?”
She shrugged. “I was told to stay down here and play.”
I forced a reassuring smile, tapping her nose before kissing her head. “Then you must do as you’re told.”
Rising to my feet, I turned to Roman and Osman. “Something’s wrong. One of you take Rosie to her room and stay with her.”
“I’ll take her,” Osman said quickly. “I’m good with children.”
I wasted no time.
Charging from the room, I took the stairs two at a time, Roman on my heels.
We stopped short in the open doorway of Emily’s bedroom.
The sight before us sent a chill slicing through my veins.
Balthazar knelt on the floor, cradling Tristan’s lifeless head in his hands. Blood cascaded down the severed neck, pooling in thick, glistening streams.
And towering over them, like a dark sentinel, stood Mathias.
Power radiated from him—raw, unbridled, lethal.
So.
He had revealed himself.
My gaze fell to Olivia, sprawled on the floor.
She looked at us—her eyes wide, full of something between terror and disbelief.
Then, without a word?—
She fainted.
Chapter 38
Olivia
